By Weswa Ronnie
KABALE
Tension escalated at the Kabale District headquarters after Chairman Nelson Nshangabasheija on Wednesday, 26th November, 2025 ordered the closure of the office of the Chief Administrative Officer, Mr Ronald Mutegeki, accusing him of incompetence and failure to perform his duties.
The action arose from protests by councillors and residents, who stormed the premises expressing deep dissatisfaction with the CAO’s conduct.
“The CAO has been reporting to work at his convenience and has repeatedly failed to execute key responsibilities assigned to his office,” Nshangabasheija said. He further claimed that the CAO has been overstepping his roles, at times acting as though he was performing duties reserved for the district chairman.
A major point of contention is Mr Mutegeki’s alleged failure to approve the new Contracts Committee appointed by the district after the previous committee’s term expired.
According to a letter dated 13th June 2025, written by the Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Ramathan Ggoobi, the new committee members were to serve their first term up to 9th September 2028.
The chairman explained that this failure has stalled essential district operations and forced them to rely on a committee from a neighboring district, Rukiga – an arrangement he says undermines the district’s autonomy and disrupts service delivery.
In a heated session, Ronald Bagamuhunda, District Male Youth Councillor for Kabale district and Secretary for Production and Marketing, called on the Ministry of Local Government to intervene immediately.
“The situation has become untenable,” he said.
Mr Joshua Musinguzi, District Councillor Representing Kyanamira Subcounty, raised further concerns, accusing the CAO of chronic absenteeism, neglect of duty, and engaging in acts of corruption, including allegedly selling district land without the knowledge or consent of the council.
Efforts to obtain a comment from the CAO were unsuccessful, with multiple calls to his known phone numbers going unanswered. The district now awaits guidance from the Ministry as tensions continue to rise among leaders and residents demanding accountability and improved service delivery.
